PURSSEY, Ian Goodwin Swan
| Service Number: | O11561 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 April 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia , 24 March 1923 |
| Home Town: | Clayfield, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | North Sydney HIgh School (NSW), Brisbane Church of England Grammar School, (Qld), Australia |
| Occupation: | Permanent RAAF |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Korea, 22 April 1952, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Monument: United Nations Memorial Cemetery Busan, Dong-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea. Wall no. 2. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra Korean War Memorial, Griffith Korean War Missing In Action Honour Roll, Gympie Memorial Lane Murals, Herston Mayne Medical School Memorial, Ipswich Korean War Memorial, Korea United Nations Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Lithgow War Memorial, Norfolk Island Korean War Memorial, Spring Hill United Services Club Queensland Roll of Honour - Boer and Korean Wars, Wagga Wagga Korean Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, O11561, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1942: | Enlisted O11561 |
Korean War Service
| 25 Jun 1950: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, O11561, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Dec 1951: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, O11561 |
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Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
Flight Lieutenant Ian Goodwin Swan PURSSEY, Service No: O11561/425749, was born on 24 March 1923 in Sydney and attended the North Sydney High School, Church of England Grammar School and University of Queensland. Civilian employment listed as medical student and Bank Clerk. He enlisted into the RAAF on 26 Apr 1942 in Brisbane as Trainee Pilot. After initial training, he was attached to RCAF in October 1942 to complete pilot training and graduated on 16 Apr 1943 . He served in UK, Middle East and Italy theatres of war during WW2 serving with No 450 Squadron (RAAF) before returning to Australia in Oct 1945. He discharged under the de-mobilisation plans on 09 Jan 1946. He re-joined the RAAF in Feb 1949 and was Posted 77SQN Korea on 03 Dec 1951. He was listed MIA believed Killed 22 April 1952 aged 29.
Mission Summary
Flight Lieutenant Ian Goodwin Swan PURSSEY, Service No: O11561, DoB: 24 March 1923, MIA: 22 April 1952, LKP TOKYO GRID YC1088, latitude and longitude 38 43 00N 125 25 00E.
On 22 April 1952, FLTLT Pursseywas part of four meteor aircraft section tasked to carry rocket attacks on specified buildings in Chinnampo. After successful attacks on the buildings, motor vehicles were sighted in the area and the decision was made to conduct strafing run on the vehicles. After the run FLTLT Purssey called he was hit - he climbed to 4000ft and his starboard engine was on fire and he jettisoned his central tank also on fire. The aircraft went into a steep dive and at about 2000 ft the right wing outside of the engine separated. His aircraft started to roll and continued to roll until impact with the river, south of Chinnampo. FLTLT Purssey was seen to eject at approx. 600ft and he was not seen to separate from his seat. Whilst aircraft debris was found in subsequent searches, there was no sign of FLTLT Purssey. Given the altitude of ejection it is unlikely that FLTLT Purssey would have survived as it was outside of the envelope for the seat. LKP is assessed in the river estuary south of Chinnampoat TOKYO GRID YC1088, latitude and longitude 38 43 00N 125 25 00E.
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